Chapra, Aug. 17: Deputy chairman of the Bihar Planning Board Harikishore Singh said the state government has made elaborate plans and arrangements to face the drought.

The government is providing loans on an all-pervasive scale for boring. Banks have been instructed to provide kisan credit cards (KCC) to farmers within 45 days.

Talking to The Telegraph here in the Circuit House, Singh said the state planning board was almost defunct till now but he has started visiting the commissionary headquarters one by one to assess and promote development.

He met the officials and heads of commercial banks to co-ordinate and find out the best possible facilities for farmers. He said banks have been instructed to provide education loans to farmersí children from high school level. He admitted that the issuance of KCC is a big problem but banks have been strictly instructed to achieve the target in six weeks. For this, camps will be organised and the divisional commissioner will monitor them.

Petty squabble

Ruling party MLA from Raghunathpur in Siwan district Jagmato Devi, along with her son and supporters, hurled abuses at an RJD leader on Independence Day over a trivial issue. RJD leader also echoed her. The MLAís carcade had occupied the complete road in front of Raghunathpur police station. The vice-president of RJDís Siwan unit, Anil Singh, sought some space to proceed towards his village, Tari. When the MLAís driver ignored Singhís requests, the RJD leader got infuriated. A heated altercation exchange followed in which supporters from both parties grabbed arms from the vehicles. Brandishing them, each party threatened the other. Prompt intervention by the police prevented any untoward incident. Both parties lodged FIRs against the other.

Arrest

The health manager of Barauli primary health centre in Gopalganj district was arrested on Tuesday on charges of intimidating and threatening to kill the medical officer of the centre.